Friday, November 14, 2008

It's crude, it's vulgar, it's rrrr rated, it's sexist and it's very funny. There, I said it. I thought it was much funnier than Knocked Up (ugh), and much, much funnier than Superbad, and except for being much more vulgar, at least as funny as Forty Year old Virgin. I do wonder, however, how a child was allowed to act in this film. No kid under the age of 14 or 15 should be allowed to even SEE this. But the kid in this film- well, if that kid talked or acted like that in SCHOOL- CPS would take the child out of his home. That's how bad that is. It does have a message about love and acceptance- that messed up adults can be paired with messed up kids and they will see their commonalities. It's about two immature adult men who are paired with two kids as part of their community service- and they wind up learning to respect the kids as well as themselves. I found the writing to be very funny- but then, I saw several older people not laugh once. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly- but NOT for kids.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

This is a movie that is so simple in plot, but so complicated in character that the viewer feels IN the film. Anne Hathaway finally has a role that requires her to act. And she acts incredibly well. The story is simple but complex-Hathaway is home from rehab (again) in time for her sister's wedding that takes place at the family home. Her parents are divorced. Her father is the ultimate peace at all cost sort of guy, and his second wife is benevolently tolerant and understanding. Her mother (played admirably by Debra Winger) is distant and no longer involved with her daughters- who feel the loss with confused sadness. This movie is not really about Hathaway's character- we, as an audience, KNOW who she is. We are exasperated with her behavior and want her to shape up. The movie is about the people AROUND Hathaway. The way her behavior, and other things I won't reveal, have affected their lives. I've always said that it is a shame that in schools, families, businesses, etc, it seems to be the poorly behaving or performing who get the attention, while the excellent are left to their own devices. This movie might make you wonder why that happens. Don't go to it expecting to have action- you will be part of a wedding, and it will be slow. But it is never dull. If you get bored, then you aren't watching the cast as they each tell the story of their character - beautifully.